Children's orthodontics: the age of the first check
The first orthodontic assessment is recommended at around six or seven years of age, when the first permanent molars erupt, because growth related problems detected then can be corrected in ways that later require surgery.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- The first assessment falls between 6 and 7 years of age.
- Interceptive treatment lasts 6 to 18 months and costs 900 € to 2,000 €.
- Full corrective treatment usually starts between 11 and 14.
- An assessment appointment costs 0 € to 80 € depending on the clinic.
Some problems that cost a simple appliance at 7 require surgery at 17. The difference is not the technique but the bone that is still growing.
Why so early
Between 6 and 7 the first permanent molars and the incisors erupt, which makes the relationship between the jaws assessable. Transverse problems such as a crossbite, and growth problems such as a narrow upper jaw, are corrected at that stage while the sutures are still open. Later, the same correction needs complex appliances or surgery.
| Age | Phase | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 7 years | first assessment | 0 to 80 € |
| 7 to 9 years | interceptive if indicated | 900 to 2,000 € |
| 9 to 11 years | monitoring of the changing dentition | annual review |
| 11 to 14 years | corrective with fixed appliances | 2,200 to 4,500 € |
| 14 to 18 years | corrective or aligners | 2,500 to 5,000 € |
| Retention afterwards | indefinite | 120 to 300 € per arch |
| Adjustment appointments | every 4 to 8 weeks | included |
What is corrected early
Posterior crossbite, which skews growth if left. A narrow upper jaw, widened with an expander over 3 to 6 months. Habits such as thumb sucking or atypical swallowing, which deform the arch. And predictable lack of space, managed with space maintainers. This is not about aligning permanent teeth that have not yet arrived; it is about directing growth.
When waiting is better
Mild crowding in the mixed dentition with no skeletal or functional problem does not justify treating an 8 year old. Starting early in those cases lengthens the total duration, raises the cost and exhausts the child's patience before the phase that matters. The correct approach is annual review until the dentition has changed completely, around 12, and deciding then.
Two phases of treatment commonly total 3,500 € to 6,000 €, against 2,500 € to 4,500 € for a single well timed phase.
What to ask at the first appointment
Whether the problem found is skeletal or purely dental, since that determines the urgency. What happens if you wait 2 or 3 years. How many phases the plan foresees and what each costs. How often reviews will be needed, typically every 4 to 8 weeks. And whether the price includes the retention afterwards, which is indefinite and often falls outside the quoted figure.
Frequently asked
+At what age is the first check?
Between 6 and 7 years, when the first permanent molars and the incisors erupt.
+What is corrected at that age?
Crossbite, a narrow upper jaw, deforming habits and predictable lack of space.
+What does the interceptive phase cost?
Nine hundred to two thousand euros over 6 to 18 months.
+Does treatment always have to start early?
No. Mild crowding without a skeletal problem is reviewed annually and treated around 12.
+Is retention included?
Often not. It costs 120 € to 300 € per arch and is indefinite.
Sources
- 1Ministerio de Sanidad, Gobierno de España (August 2026)
- 2Instituto Nacional de Estadística, INE (August 2026)